New Member - I ❤ BYC

[Cels]

Hello all! I am very new to the chicken-keeper world, and finally decided to create an account here on BYC. My name is Celeste - I've been interested in bringing home a little flock of chickens for quite some time and have decided to take the plunge. I live near Austin, TX and will be getting my chicks soon: two black Frizzle Cochins, and a few Silkies. I've attempted to do my research here on BYC, and have to say that I really love/appreciate this forum for all of the learning material it has already provided me.

I did still have some questions, and would love any input anyone has to offer - or even helpful information they feel every new chicken owner should know. Here are my questions:

1) I know the topic of Marek's Disease is all over this forum. I believe I've come to the conclusion that, although I am keeping a small flock, I will most likely be vaccinating for Marek's due to the risk from neighboring land, and lack of poultry history (if chickens were ever kept, neighbors, etc.). I would love for you to answer the poll though, just so I can get a rough estimate on how many people vaccinate or not.

Also, I have read a few articles debating if vaccinated chickens shed the virus, and it appears that many reputable people say it is not shed through the chicken's stool. Is this applicable to *ALL* of the Marek vaccines out there, or only a specific one?? I was recently told by a local hatchery that because the vaccine they use is a live vaccine, they WOULD shed the virus.

2) I intend on making a small garden area for the chickens to forage through. Most likely, they will be raised in an indoor area until they are a little larger. If I was to build a small garden in that area, what type of soil is best to use for the plants that is safe for the chicks as well? I read somewhere that potting soil is best, but I'm not sure what to look for on the label to determine whether it is harmful. One of the brands I was considering is called Nature's Care Organic Potting Soil (I believe by Miracle Grow). Any recommendations?

I apologize if these specific questions have already been asked, but I felt like I couldn't find the specific answer I was looking for. I'm very excited and will update with pictures as soon as possible! Thank you for any responses in advance.


TL;DNR - Are all the Marek's vaccines safe in the sense that they DO NOT cause the chickens to shed the virus, or is it just a specific vaccine brand/type, and what is the safest soil to use for a foraging garden?

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't have enough knowledge of the subject to give you informative answers. There are several threads on MAREKS, that you can access through the search box. One very excellent thread is authored by Nambroth.

As for vaccination , I believe it must be done to newly hatched chicks.

 

[Cels]

Thank you for the response, drumstick diva! My chicks have not yet been hatched, therefore the vaccination time period will not be an issue. I have attempted to look through other Marek threads, but haven't been able to find the answer to my specific question. I suppose I'm just concerned that the posts & people stating that the vaccine will NOT cause the vaccinated chickens to shed the virus may all be talking about one specific brand, or type, of the vaccine, and that there may be one out there that causes them to shed the virus. I just want to confirm prior to committing to vaccinations!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Not sure if you have seen them, but there are several articles in the Learning Center on Mareks, ie, https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq Vaccinated chickens will not shed an infective form of the virus due to being vaccinated ... Mareks vaccines do not prevent the chicken from being infected with Mareks, the vaccine hopefully prevents the vaccinated chicken from forming the tumors etc associated with the disease... if they are infected with Mareks from another source, they should not develop symptoms, but may shed the virus they were infected with, giving you a silent carrier.
You might try posting in the Gardening section about the potting soil, maybe somebody there is familiar with the ones you are interested in https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16176/gardening

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center

All hatched here last December

The mob

Feeding time at the zoo

Due to hatch in a couple of weeks

gander007

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Kelsie has given you some very good info on Mareks Disease. The vaccine is not 100% fool proof as some birds still do get Mareks, but it is less likely. I don't vaccinate my chicks, but I try to get them from a hatchery that does vaccinate them.

As for your new garden area, be care with potting soil that has those little tiny white balls in the soil as the birds will eat those and enough of them could cause issues. Chickens will quickly denude your garden down to bare dirt. Not a blade of grass will survive. LOL Just so you know.

Enjoy your new poultry adventures and welcome to BYC!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Cels]

Thank you, Kelsie2290. I believe that was the answer I was looking for. I already read the Marek FAQ - I just wanted to ensure that was with ALL Marek vaccines, that that they weren't speaking of a specific one. The vaccine that will be given to my chicks is a LIVE vaccine, which I've read from various sites will infect the soil and air with Marek's; it's sometimes hard to sift through multiple resources with conflicting answers and determine which are correct.

I do not know if I can link to another forum, so I will just quote a couple of those statements here:

Quote:
and another:

Quote:
Many of these sites/forums state the same thing - that the live vaccine is transmittable through the soil and feather dander after a bird is vaccinated (from the vaccine, not from contracting Marek's via another method). This was my largest concern with the vaccine, but if there is no chance spreading the virus through the live vaccine I am relieved. I do understand silent carrier issue with vaccinated chicks.

Also, thank you for the advice regarding the gardening. I had no idea there was a gardening sub forum. Fortunately, the garden will be specifically for the chickens, therefore I do not mind (for the most part) if the chickens dig it up. I have found some interesting ideas of how to keep them from the roots, but only time will tell if it actually works.

• TwoCrows, I have been looking for potting soil without Vermiculite, which I believe are the little white balls... not too sure.

And thank you everyone else for the welcome! I'm very excited for them to arrive home, as well as a little nervous with this whole vaccine ordeal.

 

[Cels]

Also, I know if you need to provide chick grit (or a similar substance) if you intend to feed chicks anything other than their starter food, but when is it actually be safe to introduce them to sprouted grains? Can you leave some in their brooder from day one?